He felt the bullet, which hit his wife, shaving his face when three armed robbers surprised them early in the morning on February 18, 2015 while they were sleeping.
Just past 02:00, Witpoortjie residents John and Rosa van der Walt, both pensioners, were awoken by the light of the alarm, and saw that the bedroom’s door was already open. The couple’s son, Hannes, told the media that his father was soon attacked by one of the robbers, who tried to strangle him with his hands.
“It was then that my mother started kicking the robber and hitting him with her knobkierie, until he fell to the ground,” explained Hannes.
“She yelled, “Switch on the alarm!”, after which one of the robbers pointed his gun at her and shot her under her right arm.”
The bullet mark is still visible in the couple’s bedroom where it hit the wall after piercing her.
“The robbers then fled the room, but they were certainly in no hurry. My father took his handgun from the safe, and even saw them talking at the gate before they climbed over the wall.”
West Suburbs Roodepoort Neighbourhood Watch (WSRNW) was called, and as far as could be established, nothing was stolen.
Rosa is currently in Leratong Hospital, where she has to go for x-rays and other medical examinations, to determine the extent of her injuries.
Frik van Zyl, spokesman for the WSRNW, said burglaries in the Witpoortjie-area are on the increase, and could most probably have a spillover effect of crime to the bordering Mindalore-area in Krugersdorp.
Leon Ehrke, Chairman of Sector 9 Community Policing Forum said they will be discussing this issue with their members, so that the residents can be informed of the crime around Mindalore.
He said that people must be vigilant at all times, and make sure their doors, windows and curtains are locked and closed for the night.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
